CHS Announces 2022 Outstanding Seniors
Published May 5, 2022 By Darlene Muguiro UTEP College of Health Sciences
This May, the College of Health Sciences is celebrating its fourth cohort of Outstanding Seniors. The designation of CHS Outstanding Senior is awarded to ten graduating seniors in the College each academic year. These students are selected on the basis of academic achievement, personal excellence, and positive impact on the College of Health Sciences. This year, CHS will recognize students in a special ceremony. Students from the 2020 and 2021 cohorts have also been invited to participate, as pandemic conditions previously prevented the College from hosting ceremonies.
The 2022 College of Health Sciences Outstanding Seniors include:
Brianna Andrade (Clinical Laboratory Science): Brianna’s path to graduation was challenging. As a first-generation college student coming from a low-income household, she worked hard to balance her academics and two part-time jobs to help her family, all while serving as a CLS class officer and mentor to her peers. Brianna also made time to serve her community volunteering at the HOPE Clinic, where she and her peers provided medical screenings for homeless El Pasoans. Following graduation, Brianna plans to take her ASCP Certification Exam to become a licensed medical laboratory scientist. In the future, she plans to apply to graduate school and study public health or health administration and aspires to one day work in an oncology unit.
Natalia Aviles (Rehabilitation Sciences – PT): As Natalia transitioned to UTEP from El Paso Community College, she worked hard to overcome her fears of the future and identified resources to help her succeed in her classes. As her mindset shifted, she became confident in her innate leadership abilities and assumed positions as the social media officer and vice-president for the Pre-Physical Therapy Association. As a PPTA officer, Natalia helped grow the organization and increase mentorship resources for students. Natalia will begin the UTEP Physical Therapy Program this May, and, in the future, hopes to work in a pediatric outpatient setting. She plans to take the life lessons she learned from PPTA with her and become a leader in her field, advocating for the best care possible for her patients.
Adria Casale-Cuellar (Rehabilitation Sciences – Speech): During her undergraduate education, Adria worked hard to highlight the inequities experienced by the Latinx community following the 2020 elections. Desiring to create a safe space for young Latinx adults, she helped to establish a JOLT Texas student chapter at UTEP, and as vice-president, co-organized events promoting civic engagement in local politics. Adria’s growing understanding of health inequities within minority communities – particularly a lack of healthcare providers – led her to the decision to pursue a medical career. She is currently preparing for a 2023 application to medical school. Long-term, Adria plans to incorporate her passion for community service into her medical practice by becoming an advocate for the health of individuals living on the border.
Samantha Gutierrez (Public Health): Samantha’s most memorable experiences at UTEP were her internship at the El Paso Department of Public Health’s HIV Prevention Program and her time as a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. While she grew as an undergraduate scholar, she also developed deep friendships with her sorority sisters that empowered her to seek out opportunities for self-growth and leadership. Along with her family members, the sisterhood also helped her get through a challenging time in her life when she experienced a health scare amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduation, Samantha plans to apply to graduate programs and will seek employment as a public health worker in El Paso.
Ariadna Hernandez (Rehabilitation Sciences – Speech): Ariadna’s most cherished experiences in the Rehab Sciences Program were participating in virtual learning exchanges and interdisciplinary service-learning projects, through which she gained new friends from across the world and had the opportunity to work with older adults – a population she says she may consider working with as a future speech-language pathologist. After graduation, Ariadna will begin the UTEP Speech-Language Pathology program and plans to serve her community as a medical SLP. In the future, she aspires to open a travel clinic to provide therapy for low-income families from El Paso and Juarez, Mexico.
Valerie Medina (Kinesiology): Valerie’s early exposure to creating exercise modifications for populations of varying age and athletic stature during a strength and conditioning course cemented her decision to pursue a career in physical therapy. Despite the challenges of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and balancing a busy schedule of academics and volunteer activities, Valerie is on track to graduate this spring to earn summa cum laude honors. After graduation, she plans to apply to the UTEP Physical Therapy Program and hopes to become a mentor to undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field.
Paola Quiroz (Rehabilitation Sciences – OT): During her time in the Rehab Sciences Program, Paola was an undergraduate research assistant in a project that identifies health disparities in the local community. She also took advantage of opportunities to serve her community and develop leadership skills through UTEP Edge activities. As a volunteer for Compadres Therapy, she found a passion for equine therapy. Paolo will begin the UTEP Occupational Therapy Program in summer 2022. In the future, she hopes to give back to UTEP and the College by volunteering with her former research group and mentoring future students.
Mikaela Reyes (Rehabilitation Sciences – Speech): Mikaela started her college career with a life-altering diagnosis of lupus, but with the help of her professors and family, she successfully overcame the challenges of managing her classes while also being hospitalized for treatments. Her experiences as a student with a unique disability led her to become an advocate for other CHS students with disabilities. Following graduation, Mikaela will apply to graduate programs in Speech-Language Pathology and plans to open her own practice to treat patients with speech disorders. In the future, she hopes to own a farm to provide animal-assisted therapy for children and adults with disabilities.
Aracely Valdez (Social Work): As an undergraduate student, Aracely volunteered for several organizations, including Southside Head Start and Faith Christian Academy. She was also the first Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) student to intern at La Familia del Paso. Her outstanding performance led the agency to decide that they would continue allowing BSW students to intern. She was also offered a position as an assessment specialist upon her graduation. This summer, Aracely will continue her education at UTEP in the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Program and plans to attain her license following the completion of her graduate degree. She hopes to practice at the macro level, addressing large-scale issues for marginalized populations, but is also open to other opportunities.
Desiree Weatherly (Kinesiology): Desiree attributes her success in graduating summa cum laude in December 2021 to her professors and peers, all of whom helped guide her and challenged her to become the best version of herself. This support system became critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she became a caretaker for fatally ill family members, and shortly afterward, a new mother. After her graduation, Desiree began making plans to volunteer with physical therapists in the U.S. Army and obtain additional certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, including certified personal trainer, group exercise instructor and exercise physiologist. Ultimately, she plans to pursue degrees in both physical therapy and business and open her own clinic.
Go Miners!
